Book Giveaway: Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code

Congratulations to author Laurie Wallmark has a new book GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTERCODE. They have agreed to participate in our book giveaways. All you have to do to get in the running is to leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know the other things you did to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Check back to discover the winner.

Laurie is having a book launch party for Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code . It takes place Sunday, May 21st from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Book Garden, 28 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ. She says everyone is invited.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

“If you’ve got a good idea, and you know it’s going to work, go ahead and do it.”
The inspiring story of Grace Hopper—the boundary-breaking woman who revolutionized computer science—is told told in an engaging picture book biography.

Who was Grace Hopper? A software tester, workplace jester, cherished mentor, ace inventor, avid reader, naval leader—AND rule breaker, chance taker, and troublemaker. Acclaimed picture book author Laurie Wallmark (Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine) once again tells the riveting story of a trailblazing woman. Grace Hopper coined the term “computer bug” and taught computers to “speak English.” Throughout her life, Hopper succeeded in doing what no one had ever done before. Delighting in difficult ideas and in defying expectations, the insatiably curious Hopper truly was “Amazing Grace” . . . and a role model for science- and math-minded girls and boys. With a wealth of witty quotes, and richly detailed illustrations, this book brings Hopper’s incredible accomplishments to life.

BOOK’S JOURNEY:

You’ve heard the expression, “it takes a village?” Well it definitely takes a village to write a picture book. I’d like to introduce you to some of the villages that helped with Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, recently released from Sterling Children’s Books.

The first village for this book is Carolyn Yoder’s Alumni Retreat at Highlights Foundation. Carolyn had helped me with my debut book, Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine, so I knew she was the perfect person to set me on the right track with my next picture book biography. One problem, though. To get the most out of her workshop, I needed a first draft of the book, so I wrote one. It was quite dreadful, to put it mildly.

Carolyn had heard some of my poetry and suggested I try writing the book in verse. This was a great idea, not to mention a lot of fun. It would also help me decide if I wanted to write my graduate creative thesis in verse. (I did.)

My next village and the one who has been with me throughout the writing of this story and many others is my critique group, the Squirrel Girls. We are so named because our discussions often get sidetracked. Often, though, this distraction leads to an aha moment for the story under consideration. We’ve been together for years, so my fellow Squirrels have seen many a version of this story. Here’s a big shout-out to Katrina Bakos, Sheila Brodhead, Randi Clarken, Gigi Collins, Lisa Versaggi, and Michelle Yu. (cont.)

Now it was time for my next village to weigh in, the faculty and students at VCFA (Vermont College of Fine Arts). I workshopped my manuscript in verse and received many helpful suggestions. The problem was, even though the advice was great, the story wasn’t, so back to the drawing board.

Using my poems as inspiration, I rewrote the book in prose. I kept one of the poems in the final book, but discarded the rest. Once again, my critique group and fellow VCFAers helped with my revisions. At this point, I also added a smaller village, my beta readers—Jeanne Balsam and Barb Krasner.

I felt good about my manuscript, so it was time to get a professional critique. Here’s where my NJ SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) village came in. I’ve had so much support and encouragement from my fellow writers and illustrators on my writing journey. I can’t imagine not having them as part of my writing community.

I had my critique at the NJ SCBWI June conference with Meredith Mundy, Executive Editor at Sterling Children’s Books. I was thrilled when Meredith told me she loved my story. Of course, she also gave me plenty of editorial notes. My next village consists of the Sterling editors, art directors, marketing and publicity departments, and all the support people. Sterling also matched me up with my amazing illustrator, Katy Wu.

My last, but certainly not least, village is the Liza Royce Agency and my agents, Liza Fleissig and Ginger Harris. They’ve been with me every step along the way, from editorial advice to contracts, marketing suggestions to emotional support. Liza and Ginger are hosting my New York City launch party (at The Corner Bookstore, May 18, 5:30 – join us!)

People think of writing as a solitary occupation. They couldn’t be more wrong. It takes a village.

LAURIE’S BIO:

Award-winning author Laurie Wallmark has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from VCFA. When not writing, Laurie teaches computer science at Raritan Valley Community College. Her debut picture book, Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine (Creston Books, 2015), received four starred trade reviews (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and School Library Journal) and several national awards, including Outstanding Science Trade Book and the Eureka Award. It is a Cook Prize Honor Book. Her next book, Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code (Sterling Books, May 2017) is a biography of the first person to use English words to program computers, has already received a starred review from Kirkus.

Click here to join Laurie as she travels from blog to blog to introduce her picture book biography, Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code.

Thank you Laurie for sharing you new book with us. It look like another must have.

Responses

What a journey this story has had — thank you, Laurie, for letting us peek behind the curtain to see all the iterations a book goes through to get it to its best possible form! The topic is appealing too, I’m sure it will inspire girls with a budding interest in tech. Brava to you and Ms. Wu, whose illustrations are charming and
draw you in to the scenes!

Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of this fabulous book. The story and illustrations look interesting and encouraging for kids to learn more (as well as their parents!). I have also tweeted about this giveaway.

Always love to learn about the journey from concept to publication. I look forward to learning more about picture book biographies & your books at the upcoming SCBWI NJ conference. I also tweeted the give-away offer!